Ronald Turner Sr. gets $500,000 bond in kidnapping case

BOULDER -- A $500,000 bond has been set for Ronald Turner Sr., the man suspected of helping his son kidnap his grandson in Longmont and travel to Canada.

Turner, 72, was returned from Missouri to Boulder County on Monday afternoon and made his first court appearance Tuesday at the Boulder County Jail. Charges are set to be filed at 2 p.m. Thursday and are expected to include complicity to commit kidnapping.

He had initially been held in Missouri on a $100,000 bond. Prosecutors asked for the higher bond Tuesday, saying they had evidence that Turner had met with his son, Monty Turner, at a Brighton gas station six hours before the kidnapping and then again at a Safeway in Longmont shortly after the incident.

Public defender Kristin Johnson argued that $100,000 would be sufficient, especially given Ronald Turner's age and lack of criminal history. Judge John Stavely ruled to increase the bond "at this time."

According to police, Monty Turner forced his way into the Longmont home of his estranged wife, Brandy Turner, on May 25 and took their 3-year-old son, Luke. Authorities arrested Monty Turner the next day at a motel in Brandon, Manitoba, Canada, and Luke was returned to his mother two days later.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol arrested Turner on May 26 in Vernon County, Mo. Troopers stopped the car he was driving because it was listed in the Amber Alert for his grandson. Missouri troopers said the grandfather denied involvement in the kidnapping at his arrest, but that children's toys were found with the car.

According to authorities, Monty Turner also had disappeared with the boy last July when he did not return as scheduled from a planned camping trip. Police found the two at a Washington County property in March, hiding under some carpeting in a box truck. Prosecutors said Tuesday that they suspect Ronald Turner was an accessory in that disappearance.

Under the bond conditions, Ronald Turner may not have contact with his son or grandson, or with Brandy Turner.

Because the public defender's office is representing Monty Turner, an attorney for Ronald Turner will be appointed from the Office of the Alternate Defense Counsel to avoid a conflict of interest.

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